Underdog Oakland Bakery Marks a Milestone

OAKLAND (KCBS) – The recent one-year anniversary of Taste of Denmark on Telegraph Ave. brought out a band and even Oakland Mayor Jean Quan. Why all the excitement? In July 2010, the financially struggling Neldam’s Danish Bakery closed its doors, disappointing locals who had come to love the legendary sweet shop’s treats.

Two months later, the doors were reopened and Neldam’s became Taste of Denmark, with employees pulling double-duty as owners after electing to adopt something of a co-op business model when the bakery was reborn.

Customers were of course pleased but cautious, too – questioning whether the new bakery could survive, especially given the unorthodox business structure and Neldam’s earlier struggles to stay afloat.

KCBS’ Bob Melrose Reports:

The September celebration put those concerns to rest, and customers and the bakers/owners couldn’t have been more pleased.